Botswana has no endemic species.

They however do have the largest single population of Wattled Cranes - Bugeranus carunculatus - in Africa.

They also have the most of the world’s Slaty Egrets - Egretta vinaceigula.

The Wattled Crane

The Wattled Crane - Bugeranus carunculatus - is by far the most endangered crane species in South Africa with only 240 left. They are the most wetland-dependent of Africa’s crane species and are exceptionally susceptible to disturbance while nesting in wetlands, and will easily desert a nest if disturbed.

Description

It is the largest crane in Africa with the back and wings ashy gray. The feathered portion of the head is dark slaty gray above the eyes and on the crown, but is otherwise white, including the wattles, which are almost fully feathered and hang down from under the upper throat. The breast, primaries, secondaries, and tail coverts are black. The secondaries are long and nearly reach the ground. The upper breast and neck are white all the way to the face. The skin in front of the eye extending to the base of the beak and tip of the wattles is red and bare of feathers and covered by small round wart-like bumps. Wattled Cranes have long bills and black legs and toes. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable although males tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles have tawny body plumage, lack the bare skin on the face, and have less prominent wattles.

Call

Wattled cranes are usually quiet birds. Their calls are high-pitched and include a far-carrying kwaamk bugle-call.

Food

The wattled crane mainly eats aquatic vegetation, but also eats tubers, rhizomes, seeds, small reptiles, frogs and insects. It often submerges its entire head under water when feeding.

Breeding

Wattled cranes breed only in wetlands. Breeding pairs maintain a territory, so that nests are always at least 500m apart. The nest is a large mound of grasses and sedges placed on a tuft, surrounded by open water. One or two eggs are laid, but only one ever hatches, the other being abandoned. Incubation period is 33-36 days. Fledging period is 135 days. Chicks reach adult height and can fly by four months, but are not sexually mature for 4 to 8 years. 

Birdwatching

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Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

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Slaty Egret

The Slaty Egret - Egretta vinaceigula - is a small, dark egret. They are largely sedentary but they shows some movement in response to rains, which cause seasonal variations in wetland conditions.

Description

The adult appears blue-grey, sometimes pale blue-grey, but may appear black in poor light. White throat and dark reddish foreneck only visible at close range. Legs and toes greenish-yellow with variable amount of chrome yellow around joints in breeding adults. Juvenile is paler and rufous on throat extends from throat down neck.

Call

It is mostly quiet, but does squawk near its nest.

Food

Diet consists of small fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates. The characteristic behaviour of the Black Heron of ‘mantling’ its wings over the water when fishing, is not displayed by the Slaty Egret. It will also glean snails from lily pads and can catch dragonflies and other insects.

Breeding

Slaty Egret breeding habitat is dense reedbeds. The nest is an untidy platform and the light blue eggs are laid at daily intervals, chicks hatch at daily intervals after some 23 days. Clutches are between 1to 4 eggs.

Conservation Status – Vulnerable

Globally Vulnerable, although it is more likely to be endangered, as swamp burning and reed-cutting are severely impacting it. Disturbance by humans and livestock at temporary pans and rivers is also a serious concern. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to the effects of habitat conversion and degradation, and human disturbance. The likely rate of decline, however, has not been estimated. The wetlands inhabited by this species face many threats, including: flood regulation, water abstraction, land-claim for agriculture¹, reed-cutting etc.

Birdwatching

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